c# execute command line like command prompt?

Question

I want to write a c# code to execute some command prompt lines and store the result into a global variable in c# to be used for further processing in other part of the code in c#.

I bought a device and I installed its driver. The only way for me to obtain its data is using command line in command prompt. There is no API available. But, I want to do in c# so that is why I am having trouble.

I have some code and it doesn't works for some reason. Note, I used argument input = "date" is only for illustration purpose. My work is not using "date" but some arguments to obtain data.

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    System.Diagnostics.Process process = new System.Diagnostics.Process();
    System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo();
    startInfo.WindowStyle = System.Diagnostics.ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;
    // the cmd program
    startInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
    // set my arguments. date is just a dummy example. the real work isn't use date.
    startInfo.Arguments = "date";
    startInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
    startInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
    process.StartInfo = startInfo;
    process.Start();
    // capture what is generated in command prompt
    var output = process.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
    // write output to console
    Console.WriteLine(output);
    process.WaitForExit();

    Console.Read();
}

Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

you'll need to use /c date to get cmd to launch date like that.

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    System.Diagnostics.Process process = new System.Diagnostics.Process();
    System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo();
    startInfo.WindowStyle = System.Diagnostics.ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;
    // the cmd program
    startInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";

    // set my arguments. date is just a dummy example. the real work isn't use date.
    startInfo.Arguments = "/c date";
    startInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
    startInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
    process.StartInfo = startInfo;
    process.Start();
    // capture what is generated in command prompt
    var output = process.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
    // write output to console
    Console.WriteLine(output);
    process.WaitForExit();

    Console.Read();
}

the flags /c and /k are your friends when using cmd.exe to launch other programs. /c is used to execute a program then exit CMD. /k is used to execute a program then leave CMD running.